Open International de Nantes Set for All-French Men’s Final After Main Draw is Released

The 2017 Open International de Squash de Nantes is set to feature an all-French final in the Men’s event for the first time, with World No.23 Gregoire Marche seeded to meet former World No.6 Mathieu Castagnet in the title decider.

 

Taking place at Les Machines de l'île between September 6-10, the Men’s Open International de Squash de Nantes features a $25,000 prize fund and will see Castagnet take on fellow Frenchman Lucas Serme in the pick of the first round fixtures.

 

A win for Castagnet would see him face either England’s Declan James or talented Egyptian Youssef Soliman in the last eight, while Swiss No.4 seed Nicolas Mueller and Qatar’s Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi are also on Castagnet’s side of the draw as they take on a qualifier and tournament wildcard Auguste Dussourd, respectively.

 

Meanwhile, Marche kickstarts his efforts to lift a third successive Open International de Nantes title with an opening round fixture against a qualifier and the 27-year-old is seeded to meet maverick Egyptian Mazen Hesham in an explosive last four encounter.

 

Last year’s final saw Marche defeat England’s Chris Simpson to take the title and the duo could face off in a rematch as early as the quarter-finals if they both emerge from their first round matches unscathed.

 

The Women’s event boasts its biggest ever prize purse of $15,000 and sees English duo Millie Tomlinson and Fiona Moverley named as the top two seeds, with the pair seeded to clash in the final.

 

Moverley could need to overcome home hope Coline Aumard if she is to play to her seeding, with Aumard the highest ranked female French player in the tournament.

 

Tomlinson begins her tournament against wildcard Julie Rossignol - the 20-year-old from Marly Le Roi - and the World No.26 is seeded to meet Belgium’s Nele Gilis in the semi-finals.

 

The qualifying stages of the Open International de Squash de Nantes will be held between September 4-5 at La Maison du Squash, with the main draw staged between September 6-10 at Les Machines de l’île.



Tickets for the tournament start from €6 and can be purchased here: http://uk.opensquashnantes.fr/

 

The Open International de Squash de Nantes will be the first tournament of the 2017/18 season to be shown live on SQUASHTV (rest of world) and Eurosport Player (Europe only).

 

2017 Men’s Open International de Squash de Nantes – First Round Draw:

[1] Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [Qualifier]

[Qualifier] v [5] Chris Simpson (ENG)

[8] Mohamed Reda (EGY) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)

[Qualifier] v [3] Mazen Hesham (EGY)

[4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v [Qualifier]

[WC] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) v [7] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT)

[6] Declan James (ENG) v Youssef Soliman (EGY)

Lucas Serme (FRA) v [2] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)

 

2017 Women’s Open International de Squash de Nantes – First Round Draw:

[1] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v [WC] Julie Rossignol (FRA)

[Qualifier] v [8] Rowan Elaraby (EGY)

[7] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v [Qualifier]

Hana Moataz (EGY) v [4] Nele Gilis (BEL)

[3] Coline Aumard (FRA) v [Qualifier]

Julianne Courtice (ENG) v [5] Hollie Naughton (CAN)

[6] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) V Amina Yousry (EGY)

[Qualifier] v [2] Fiona Moverley (ENG)